For those who were able to make it, I hope you were encouraged and blessed by your time at the prayer stations this week. Thank you Fiona Mansfield for the inspired creativity, using earthen vessels to bring to life the Made for More theme.  

 

The fours stations focussed on how God forms us as his vessels to carry and release his life, love and blessing in the greater ways he made us for.  

1. Shaped for more: we place our lives in God’s hands like clay in the hands of a potter. 

2. Power through weakness: we trust God who specialises in doing his best work through jars of clay. Even redeeming our cracks, creating beauty through them. 

3. Created to do good works: the life of Jesus flows from us when we observe the beautiful vessel values of humility, integrity, availability and unity. 

4. Reaching more: we pray persistently for neighbours and neighbourhoods, and respond empowered to Jesus call to go and reach more. 

 

Was it worth the time and energy to pray for three days? Does prayer make a difference? While these are good questions, there are other questions we can ask about things that take our time and effort. 

 

Do you ever feel worried? Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives us something to do but doesn’t go anywhere. It simply robs today of energy not tomorrow of problems. 

Do you ever feel exhausted from striving? We carry so much stress when we carry it alone and live as if life is up to us. 

Do you ever feel afraid? The future is uncertain and it’s easy to default to an outlook of dread and gloom, especially if you have some disappointment in your life.

Do you ever feel confused about what to do, or foggy about life? There are so many decisions to make and too many options. It can feel overwhelming to choose. 

 

I could answer yes to those questions, and maybe you can too. Yet I prefer the earlier question about whether prayer makes a difference. Whenever we pause to pray, not only do we see God answer prayer, but how prayer pushes away things that use up our time and energy. That's because prayer expresses our trust that Jesus really is in control, and has authority over all things. The one who calmed the storm with a simple command. 

 

When we pray, life seems to become lighter and things seem clearer. When we pray, courage returns as fear is pushed out of the way. Worry is replaced by a peace that surpasses all understanding. We might wonder if prayer is too costly, but it’s good to remember that the cost of going it alone is far greater on our time and energy. 

 

3 days of prayer is over, but we are still praying every week. You might even like to 

DOWNLOAD the prayer guide and take some personal time to retreat in a place

you find peaceful. Let’s pray that Jesus calms storms for people this week. 

 

Marty